Oregon State University–Cascades, which is the state's newest public university campus, has opened its first student residence hall and dining facilities.
The university says the residence hall on the Bend, Ore., campus has space for 300 in single-, double-, and triple-rooms, as well as in apartment-style suites. Initially, about 60 undergraduate students will call the facility home. Amenities in the three-wing building include quiet study rooms, lounges and kitchens, a fitness center, and indoor bike and gear storage.
University officials say the student housing is a key step in what they envision as residential campus that ultimately will accommodate 3,000 to 5,000 students. Construction of the OSU-Cascades campus began in 2015, and the first buildings opened in September 2016.
Security features of the residence hall include electronic key card access and live-in staff. The OSU-Cascades public safety office will be situated in the new dining and academic building.
The main dining area seats up to 250 people, with additional outdoor seating. It also features a coffee bar, where booths are each fitted with an LCD screen, to support project collaboration. The dining program will focus on healthful, and whenever possible, locally or Oregon-sourced ingredients.
The main floor of the dining building also features an administrative suite for support services, including offices for transportation, public safety, human resources and business functions. The second floor includes administrative offices and a conference room, and four classrooms, including a quiet meditation room and makers’ spaces.
Campus leaders are in the process of determining a name for each of the new buildings.
